Can-opener.



E. PHELPS.

CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1917.

1,261,284 Patented Apr. 1918.

' FKQEe nuenivn rHnLrs, or PITCH-FORK, WYOMING.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, EUGENE PHELPS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pitchfork, county of Park, State of Wyoming, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvementin Can-Openers, of which the followingis'a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawmgs.

My invention relates to can openers ofthe type commonly employedfor opening sealed tins and the like and has for its object a new and improved device for this purpose. The opener embodying my invention is especially designed to. severone end from the can by removing a narrow strip of metalfrom its I periphery adjacent the top so that there are no inwardly projecting flanges or burs and the entire contents of the can may be removed without injury. A further object of my invention is to provide an opener by which a clean out without jagged or rough edges may be produced. A still further object of my invention is to so arrange the device that it may be made very quickly and cheaply and by which a can maybe opened very simply and easily.

My invention will be fully understood from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and thenovel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claim at the close of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a device embodying my invention and of a portion of a can, the top of which is being severed.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the can opener in closed position. 1

Figs. 3 and 4 are views in perspective of the can opener members.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cutting and guiding end of the member shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are sections on line 66 and 7-7 respectively of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an end view of the device as viewed from the left in Fig. 1.

Having reference to the drawings, there is shown a can opener embodying my invention which comprises a pair of members 11 and 12 connected by a pivot 13. The member 11 has a cutting slot 14 through which the blade 15 of the member 12 passes, the sides of which form shearing surfaces and guides with which the blade of the member 12 c0- Patented Apr. 2,1918.

Application filed April 11, 1917. Serial No. 161,298.

operates. The slot 14 terminates near the end of the member 11 a portion of the material of the member 11 being left at the end to prevent the member from spreadingand widening the slot.

The member 11 is preferably formed from i slightly beyond the cutting edges of the member 11. The guide is preferably shaped as shown and is arranged so that the edge or bead 20 of a can "21 will fit between the guide 18 and the member 11 as isindicated in Fig. 8.

The cooperating member 12 consists of a handle portion 22 and the blade 15 the whole being preferably formed from a fiat strip of steel. The handle portion 22 is of U-shape in cross section and is connected with the blade 15 by a shank 24 which is curved to a W-shape as shown in cross section in Fig. 7 and is provided with a rib 25 which extends from the ridge of the U-shaped handle 22 to the opposite side of the blade 15. The blade 15 is formed bybending the sides of the strips of steel stock oppositely to the sides of the U-shaped handle portion 22 so that it is composed of members 26 and 27 as is shown in Fig. 3. The stock is turned over abruptly and is compressed along the line of bend 28 so that the sides 26 and 27 lie closely adjacent each other. The shearing surface 29 of the blade 15 is formed by the edges of the members 26 and 27 and is arranged to lie parallel and in contact with the edges of the cutting slot 14 of the member 11. It will, therefore, be seen that the upper or non-cutting edge is the folded edge, and, therefore, when the blade is ground on the cutting edge there is no danger of the halves of the blade springing apart as would be the case if the folded edge was the cutting edge. The folded edge of the blade is thinner than the cutting edge to afford clearance for free 7 action.

smooth gripping surface and the blade provides a shearing surface which may be re- "member is made.

peatedly sharpened without A becoming worn out. Furthermore the construction of the shank portion 2a is such that a strong and" serviceable connection between the handle and blade is provided.

The blade 15 of the member *12extends be-' yond the guide 18 of the member 11 when the device isclosed as shown in Fig. 2 and the end of the blade is sharpened so that the metallic can may be readily punctured by it. A spring 30 is secured to the member 11 and engages with the inner surface of the member 12 thereby tending normally to hold the handles and blades in open position. In the drawings, I have shown the connection of the spring with the member 11 by forming a hook at the end of the spring and uniting it under a pairof projections 10 struck up from the handle. At 32 is alink which is connected to the member 12 by an eye 33 formed of a portion of the stock of which the The link 32 is adapted to engage with a suitable hook 34: formed in the memberll to hold the device shut when not in use and when used as a punch to form a starting hole.

The device embodying my inventionprm vides a ready means for opening a can whether of cylindrical shape or flat sided by inserting the point of the blade it through the periphery ofthe can at a point closely adjacent the one end. The member 18 extends overthe edge of the can and forms a guide by the aid of which a narrow slot may be readily formed about the periphery of the can and its top severed. The

shearing members form two parallel cuts and the slot which is produced provides plenty of room for the blade 15. By making the shearing'surface of the blade thicker than the folded edge all possibility of crampingis prevented and a ready and easy means for openingza can is provided.

What I claim is r 1. The improved can opener comprising a pair of members pivoted together and forming cutters,- one of said members being formed from sheet metal and having ahandleportion of U-shaped cross section, and a blade conslstmg of two members each 01 which has one side face in contact with aside face of the other, said blade being formed by folding the sheet metal in the reverse direction from that in which the metal forming the handle is folded. I

2. Th'eimproved can opener comprising a pair of members pivoted together and forming cutters, one of said members being. formed fromsheetmetal and COII1Pl1S111g a handle which 1s of Urshaped erossisectlon, a'

bl ade consisting of two contacting members formed by folding the sheet metal in the reverse direction from that in which the metal formingethe handle is folded, and a shank connecting the said blade 1 and handle to gether which is substantially W-shaped in i ener comprising cross section. I V 3. The improved can op pair of members pivotedtogether and formof a sheet of metal which is formed to have a U-shaped cross-section, and having a cutting. slot near one end, and an extension at one side folded over to form a'guide adjacent said slot.

In testimony whereof'I aliix my signature.

EUGENE PHELPS.

Copies of this patent may 'be obtained for five cents eachyby addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. l 

